THE HISTORY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Faces, Places, and Cases

Which is the correct penny?NOTE: You cannot look at a real penny!

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

The application of science to lawApplies the knowledge and technology of

science for the definition and enforcement of laws.

The application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

Definition of Forensic Science

Civil Law vs. Criminal LawFDA/DEA regulationFBI/TBIVast professions

Scope of Forensic Science

History of Forensic Science

B.C. ---Evidence of fingerprints in early paintings and rock carvings of prehistoric humans

700’s—The Chinese use fingerprints as a method of identification on documents and clay

1000-Quintilian, a Roman attorney, showed that blood palm prints were meant to frame a blind man of his mother’s murder

1248-A Chinese book, His Duan Yu (The Washing Away of Wrongs) becomes first recorded application of medical knowledge to the solution of crime.

1839, Chinese Deed of Sale-Signed with fingerprint

Aboriginal Indian Petroglyph from Nova Scotia

History

1686—Marcello Malpighi, noted unique pattern of fingerprints, but made no mention of their value as a tool for identification

1784-John Toms was convicted of murder using torn newspaper found in a gun wad, that matched a piece found in his pocket

1810-First recorded use of document analysis using a chemical test in Germany

1813—Mathiew Orfila-Considered father of modern toxicology. Found ways to determine poisonings and its effects in animals. Published a book on the topic.

History

1823-John Purkinji-published the first paper on the nature of fingerprints and suggested a class system of nine major types but he failed to recognize their individualization potential

1828-Polarizing light microscope invented by William Nichol

1830s—Adolphe Quetelet-believed no two bodies were identical

1835-Henry Goddard-First used a bullet to catch a murderer

John Purkinji

Time for a Video Break

History

1836-James Marsh-first to used toxicology in a jury trial (specifically developed a test for arsenic). The Marsh Test is still in use today.

1862-J. Izaak Van Deen-developed a presumptive test for blood using guaiac, a West Indian shrub.

1864-Odelbrecht-first advocated the use of photography for the identification of criminals and for documenting evidence and crime scenes.

1879-Rudolph Virchow-German pathologist, was one of the first to both study hair and recognize its limitations.

Marsh tests for Arsenic

History

1880-Henry Faulds-suggested fingerprints at scene of crime could identify the offender, used fingerprints to eliminate an innocent suspect in a Tokyo crime.

1883-Alphonse Bertillon-believed and practiced a system of anthropometry, where no two individuals had the same body measurements.

Bertillonage

Bertillonage

History

1887-Arthur Conan Doyle-published the first Sherlock Holmes story.

In his books, Holmes developed principles of serology, fingerprinting, firearm identification, and questioned-document examination long before their value was known by real CSIs.

History

1889-Alexandre Lacassagne-First to try to individualize bullets to a gun barrel.

1891-Hans Gross-published “Criminal Investigation”, the first comprehensive text of uses of physical evidence to solve crimes. Coined the word “Criminalistics”.

1892-Sir Francis Galton-published “Fingerprints”, the first book on the nature of fingerprints and their use in solving crime.

Juan Vucetich-Developed fingerprint class system in Argentina. Argentina was first to replace anthropometry with fingerprints.

Francis Galton-first to classify fingerprints

Spot the Differences Dinner

Time

Week 1 - Tuesday

Source: http://www.slylockfox.com/arcade/6diff/index.html

Find the 6 differences between the two pictures.

Answers

Answers: Fish gill, tree stump, cat’s foot, dog’s mouth, bird’s beak, dog’s ear

History

1894-Alfred Dreyfus of France was convicted based on a mistake made by Bertillon.

1896-Sir Edward Richard Henry-developed the fingerprint classification system that would be used in Europe and North America. Converted these continents away from use of anthropometry.

1900-Karl Landsteiner-First discovered human blood groups.

1904-Edmond Locard-Locard’s Exchange Principle.

Edmond Locard(1877-1966)—advocated the use of scientific method to crime scene investigation. Was educated in both medicine and law. Developed a center for the research and study of forensic science.

He became known as the Father of Forensic Science. He also developed Locard’s Exchange Principle.

Forensic Pioneers

The exchange of materials between two objects that occurs whenever two objects come in contact with one another.

Believed that when a criminal came in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurred.

Believed that every criminal could be connected to the crime scene by dust particles carried from the scene.

Locard’s Exchange Principle

History

1905-In the U.S., President Theodore Roosevelt establishes the F.B.I.

1910-Edmond Locard-establishes the first police crime laboratory.

1910-Albert S. Osborne-influential document examiner, publishes “Questioned Documents”

1915-Leon Lattes-Develops first antibody test for ABO blood groups. Helps develop paternity testing.

1918-Edmond Locard-first suggested the 12 matching points as positive fingerprint identification.

History

1920’s-George Popp-Pioneered use of botanicals in forensic work

1920’s-Calvin Goddard-perfected the comparison microscope for use in bullet comparison

1921-John Larson and Leonard Keeler-designed the portable polygraph

1923- Case of Frye Vs. United States –polygraph test results are ruled inadmissable.

1924-August Vollmer-LAPD police chief, develops first police crime lab in U.S.

Case #1: The Accident

Week 1 - Wednesday

T. Trimpe 2006 http://sciencespot.net/

There was nothing Leon, the driver, could do about the

impending crash of the car he was driving. Leon knew the car would be completely demolished

in the crash. After the crash Leon didn’t have a scratch on

him. How can that be?

Leon was driving a remote control car.or

He was playing a video game.

1923- “Frye Vs. U.S.”—the court stated: The court must decide if questioned

procedures used in collecting or analyzing evidence are “generally accepted” by a meaningful segment of the relevant scientific community.

Are there notes, studies, books on the techniques in question???

Laws Affecting Evidence

History

1926- Case of Sacco and Vanzetti –first case responsible for upholding work of Calvin Goddard and use of comparison microscope for bullet comparison.

1932-F.B.I. crime lab is created1937—Walter Specht-creates luminol as a

presumptive test for blood1937-Paul Kirk-Professor in California,

creates a major in technical criminology1940-Landsteiner-describes Rh groups

History

1945-Frank Lundquist-develops acid phosphatase test for semen

1950-Max Frei-Sulzer- develops the tape lift method for collection of evidence

1954-R.F. Borkenstein-invents the Breathalyzer1958-1973- Many more lab based tests are

developed for determining body fluids and trace evidence

1977-Fuseo Matsumar-accidentally notices what occurs with his fingerprints when in contact with Super Glue-thus Super Glue fuming technique develops

History

1977-F.B.I. –begins work on A.F.I.S.1984-Sir Alec Jeffreys develops first DNA

profiling test1986-First use by Jeffreys of DNA testing to

solve a crime-The Colin Pitchfork murder trial.

1983-PCR technique first conceived by Kerry Mullis

1986-First commercial PCR kit produced 1986- PCR used in court trial- Case of People

vs. Pestinikas, First use of DNA testing in U.S. case

History

1987-DNA testing challenged in U.S. court. Case of New York vs. Castro –(quality control guidelines are put in place to make DNA testing admissable)

In the same year, RFLP testing convicts Tommy Lee Andrews of a series of sexual assaults in Florida.

1991-IBIS is developed-Integrated Ballistics Identification System-to compare markings on fired bullets

Spot the Differences Happy

Birthday

Week 1 - Thursday

Source: http://www.slylockfox.com/arcade/6diff/index.html

Find the 6 differences between the two pictures.

Answers

Answers: Tail feathers, flame, monkey’s tail, lion’s mane, cake tray, frosting

1993-Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals—The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “general acceptance” or the “Frye” standard is not an absolute prerequisite to the admissibility of evidence.

The court decided it was up to the trial judge to ensure that an expert’s testimony rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant.

Laws Affecting Evidence

1999—Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael---the court unanimously ruled that the judge was to also determine the validity of not only scientific testimony but expert testimony.

Laws affecting evidence cont.

An individual whom the court determines possesses knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson.

Competency may be established by citation of educational degrees, participation in special courses, membership in professional societies, and any professional articles or books published that relate.

Also of importance is the number of years experience the witness has in related areas.

Expert Testimony

The opposing attorney has a chance to cross-examine the witness and to point out weaknesses in background and knowledge.

Witnesses are not allowed to voice personal opinions.

Expert Witness

History

1996-F.B.I. introduces A.F.I.S.—Live scan and card devices allow interdepartmental submissions

1996-Case of Tennessee Vs. Ware –mitochondrial DNA typing admitted for the first time in a U.S. court.

1998-NIDIS-F.B.I. DNA database was put into practice

1999-F.B.I. upgrades A.F.I.S. to I.A.F.I.S.-to allow submission and storage of fingerprints in a national database linked to the F.B.I.

1932—J. Edgar Hoover directed the FBI to organized a national crime laboratory to offer services to all law enforcement agencies in the country.

The FBI lab is now the world’s largest crime lab.

1981—The FBI Forensic Science Research and Training Center was opened. Is used to train investigators in the latest techniques and methods.

The F.B.I.-The Most Elite Crime Lab in the U.S.

At present there are approx. 320 crime labs operating at various levels within the U.S.

Lab staff in these level may range from one to more than one hundred.

Additions in staff have been increasing due to rising levels of drug-related crimes since the 1960’s.

Crime Labs

The advent of DNA technology has also called for an increasing number of trained professionals.

The U.S. government has four major federal crime laboratories—The FBI(Department of Justice), The DEA(Department of Justice), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms(Dept. of Justice) and The U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Many individual state have satellite labs throughout their proximities.

Crime Labs

Physical Science Unit—applies principles of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime-scene evidence. These scientists may analyze explosives, soil, drugs, glass, etc.

Biology Unit—staffed with biologists and biochemists who apply knowledge of DNA, serology, drugs, hair/fiber analysis, and comparison of botanical materials.

Services Provided by Full-Service Crime Labs

Firearms Unit—examine firearms, bullets, shell casings, and garments/objects for gun powder residues

Document Examination Unit—analyze paper and ink, indented writings, erasures, burned and charred documents, etc.

Photography Unit—used to examine and record evidence and crime scenes, use specialized photography techniques. May help in courtroom presentations.

Services provided cont.

Toxicology Unit: used to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues, or organs.

Latent Fingerprinting Unit: Are responsible for processing and examining evidence for latent fingerprints.

Polygraph Unit: Lie detectionVoiceprint Analysis Unit: Used to tie

suspects to crimes involving telephone threats, tape-recordings, etc.

Optional Services Provided

Evidence-Collection Unit: Comprised of specially trained personnel to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence.

More Optional Services cont.

Trivia Set #1

Week 1 - Friday

T. Trimpe 2006 http://sciencespot.net/

1. Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who was convicted on the basis of which type of forensic evidence? A. Bite marks C. DNA fingerprinting B. Latent fingerprints D. Ballistics

2. The time of death can be calculated by various means. One is rigor mortis, Latin for 'the stiffness of death'. Another indication is livor mortis or lividity. What does this term refer to? A. Cloudiness in the eyesB. Gravitational pooling of blood C. Degree of digestion of stomach contentsD. Relaxation of muscles following to rigor mortis

3. When attempting to identify a skeleton, craniofacial morphology (the structure and form of the skull and face) is the best indicator of race. One group of human beings has a unique, rounded jaw bone which is called a 'rocker jaw'. This is a characteristic of which ethnic group? A. Australian Aborigines C. African Americans B. Chinese D. Hawaiians

1. Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who was convicted on the

basis of which type of forensic evidence? A. Bite marks Although he denied being the killer, Bundy made the mistake of

biting one ofhis victims. So although he lied through his teeth, his teeth marks

didn’t lie! 2. The time of death can be calculated by various means. One is rigor mortis, Latin for 'the stiffness of death'. Another indication is livor mortis or lividity. What does this term refer to? B. Gravitational pooling of blood Livor is Latin for 'a black and blue spot' and refers to the discoloration of the skin in the lowest part of a cadaver resulting from the gravitational pooling of blood. 3. When attempting to identify a skeleton, craniofacial morphology (the structure and form of the skull and face) is the best indicator of race. One group of human beings has a unique, rounded jaw bone which is called a 'rocker jaw'. This is a characteristic of which ethnic group? D. Hawaiians - The 'rocker jaw' is so called because it will rock back and forth like a rocking chair if gently pushed.